do-it-yourself

American  

[doo-i-cher-self, -it-yer-] / ˈdu ɪ tʃərˈsɛlf, -ɪt jər- /

DIY,

adjective

1. of or designed for construction or use by amateurs without special training.

   a do-it-yourself kit for building a radio.

---

noun

1. the practice or hobby of building or repairing things for oneself, usually in one's own home.

do-it-yourself British  

noun

1. 1. the hobby or process of constructing and repairing things oneself

   2. ( as modifier )

      a do-it-yourself kit

---

Other Word Forms

• do-it-yourselfer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of do-it-yourself

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

A massive wave of do-it-yourself traders bought some $18 million of SpaceX stock in the first 20 minutes of trading.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

A crucial element in SpaceX’s soaring IPO was the army of do-it-yourself traders who bought some $118 million of SpaceX stock on the first day of trading.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

For consumers in the do-it-yourself camp, biohacking is now as easy getting an Amazon.com delivery.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

The head of environmental group Legambiente, Stefano Ciafani, described the 18 deaths as an "unprecedented attack on protected wildlife" and an example of "do-it-yourself justice".

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

I leaned to the side to see, sitting across from me, a short, scrawny Black boy with a do-it-yourself haircut, thick red-and-black-framed glasses, super-baggy cargo shorts, and a Malcolm X T-shirt.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

• handmade